Practical Lessons From Corrupt Politicians

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

     

       My theme is "practical lessons from corrupt politicians." "Which ones?," you might ask. Well, you be the judge. Corruption in politicians is so common that one need not look far to find it. And what is true of many politicians is true of a lot of others, too.

       What lessons might we learn from corrupt persons, whether they be politicians or something else?

• Always tell the truth, no matter how personally painful or embarrassing it might be. It is human nature to try and make ourselves look better than we are, and we resort to lying to do so. But we should always tell the truth.
• We dig ourselves into a hole by dishonesty, and it gets deeper and deeper the longer the dishonesty continues. It doesn't take long before we are in a hole over our heads.
• The only way out of the hole we have dug by dishonesty is by telling the truth. Sometimes that requires revealing who else, by joining in the dishonesty, has helped us dig the hole we are in. We might not want to get others in trouble, but sometimes honesty compels us to do so. 
• Never forsake moral principles to advance an agenda or get ahead.  We Christians believe the Bible to  be God's Word. And as such, it gives us absolute moral standards by which to guide our lives.  But we have to be careful to not allow ourselves to forsake the Bible's moral absolutes in order to make more money, to get a better job, to advance an agenda. or to be elected to a political office.
• We need to remember that, even if we go to the grave without getting caught in our dishonesty, God will hold us accountable after death, and on a day of final judgment. Just read Revelation chapter 20 to learn about the comng day of reckoning before God.
• The Bible says in Deuteronomy 32:4 that God is "A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." That is why he expects us to be truthful persons.
• The Bible says in Ephesians 4:15 that we are to speak the truth in love.
• If we Christians do something or say something dishonest, we need to straighten it out with those with whom we have been dishonest. But we need also confess it to God, for the Bible says in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
• If you are not a Christian and want to learn how to bcome one, click on the following link to an excellent, brief article that will tell you what you need to know: http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html